Why aren't there any PTO sawmills?

[N80]

I know the old tractors with the belt wheel on the side were used to drive saw mills, but why nothing now for modern tractors? (Maybe there is but I did a quick Google search and came up with nothing.) It seems to me that a large part of the price of a small portable saw mill is the engine. I'm sure a PTO driven band saw mill would need some method to increase RPMs over the PTO output and that a gearbox might make the price just as high as a gas engine powered mill. But, a belt drive would be pretty cheap. So I must be missing something obvious. What is it?

 

[newbury]

I'm thinking that the "old ones" you moved the log THRU the mill and blade, with my 10HP Woodmizer LT10 I move the mill head. And that's the normal approach up to 70HP mills.

 

[N80]

Ah, that's it.

 

[TnAndy]

Belsaw used to make a small circle mill, the M-14, that ran off a PTO ( or any source of power ). You see them for sale from time to time. They were really lightweight setups, and the carriage was limited to 14' logs.

As Newbury said......with a circle mill, you generally move the log on a carriage into the blade, which is in a fixed position. Most small band mills, the log sits stationary, and the head takes the band thru the log.

 

[N80]

I suspect there are safety issues for mills in which one would have to push the log. A mill that moved the log itself would be super expensive.

 

[Piston]

Even if there were, I could not see owning one. I use the tractor to load the logs and sort the lumber after I mill it.

I would not want to use my mill without having my tractor available to use.

 

[Gator6x4]

Some of the old saw mills can still be found. They are rare finds today though. People who purchased old farms and found one in the barn usually gave them away or sold them as scrap metal.

In my youth I used to help a neighbor move his and set it up. Watching him sharpen and set the teeth on the huge circular blade was better than going to a Roy Rogers Movie. I think what he actually wanted me for was to man the mattock and dig a saw dust pit under the saw box for the chain drag to drag the saw dust out and carry the slabs when was sawing logs into lumber.

 

[smstonypoint]

I seem to remember that older Fords could be equipped with a 3pt "flywheel" attachment that allowed the PTO to power belt-driven equipment, including saws. Is my memory failing me?

Steve

 

[N80]

Even if there were, I could not see owning one. I use the tractor to load the logs and sort the lumber after I mill it.

I would not want to use my mill without having my tractor available to use.

I thought about that, but I'm not talking serious mill operations. And if it were designed properly there shouldn't be any more to it than hooking up a PTO shaft. Besides, how much of an excuse do you need to have TWO tractors?:laughing:

 

[Tor Arne]

Kara makes sawmills that you power with a tractor

KARA F2000 Mobil | Kallion konepaja Oy

Laimet also makes a model

Equipments, stationary sawmill

 

[N80]

The Kara looks very much like what I imagined but on a much bigger scale. It looks amazing but it looks very expensive. I think you can get a portable gas powered band saw for less than $5000.

 

[bcp]

I seem to remember that older Fords could be equipped with a 3pt "flywheel" attachment that allowed the PTO to power belt-driven equipment, including saws. Is my memory failing me?

Steve

Your memory is fine.



From:
Ford tractor original accessories

Bruce

 

[roadhunter]

Kara makes sawmills that you power with a tractor

KARA F2000 Mobil | Kallion konepaja Oy

Laimet also makes a model

Equipments, stationary sawmill

Very interesting. Thanks for posting. I've also wondered how to make a saw work off a tractor and those look really nice.

 

[roadhunter]

One on ebay for cheap.

Sawmill Buck Saw PTO Farm Tractor Belt Driver John Deere Green Circular Firewood | eBay

 

[smstonypoint]

Your memory is fine.

View attachment 385078

From:
Ford tractor original accessories

Bruce

That's a relief.

Just curious. How was the pulley geared? For example, if the PTO was turning at 540 RPMs, how fast was the pulley turning?

Steve

 

[Tor Arne]

Very interesting. Thanks for posting. I've also wondered how to make a saw work off a tractor and those look really nice.

Any of the old saws that were designed to run on a stationary motor or other power source can easily be converted to PTO by putting on a shaft with splines and pulley. My neighbor has an old home built saw that he powered with a Fordson Dexta

 

[Tor Arne]

That's a relief.

Just curious. How was the pulley geared? For example, if the PTO was turning at 540 RPMs, how fast was the pulley turning?

Steve

If I remember correctly, there are about 1250 rpm on the pulley at 540 rpm on the PTO

 

[newbury]

The Kara looks very much like what I imagined but on a much bigger scale. It looks amazing but it looks very expensive. I think you can get a portable gas powered band saw for less than $5000.

Yes, the base price NOW on a Woodmizer LT10 is only $4K.

 

[Piston]

Besides, how much of an excuse do you need to have TWO tractors?:laughing:

That's a REALLY good point.... :laughing:

 

[boggen]

there are a few "regular chain saw" mills. were ya mount chain saw into a vise and hook up a cable to trigger. log is placed on stand, and the chain saw is pulled down the length of log.

not sure about a saw mill, but would love to have a fire wood processor.